Pipe cleaning tool



Feb. 16, 1932. I E. ROBINSON 4 PIPE! CLEANING TOOL Fi led May 14, 19313nventor Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES Louis- E. nonrnson, orCOUNCIL iaLUEFs; IOWA V PIPE CLEANING 'roon' Application filed May 14,

This invention relates to a tool for cleaning pipes, and morespecifically soil pipes leading from water closets, these last namedpipes having curved forms which may occasionally become obstructed. I

The object of the invention is to provide a tool which will beconvenient in use will be efiective in removing obstructions from soilpipes, and will be of such simple construction that it will not beexpensive in manufacture.

The invention consists of the new and useful construction, combinationand arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood thatchanges may be made in form, size, proportion of parts and minordetails, said changes being within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section showing the useof the tool applied to a soil pipe. 7

Fig. 2 is a broken away side view of the tool, with the hose pipeomitted. Fig. 3 is a similar view to that shown in Fig. 2, the hose pipebeing in position. Fig. 4: is a view in longitudinal section showing theterminal part of the tool.

Referring now to the drawings for a more particular description, theinvention consists of a coiled spring 5 which may be constructed ofstrong wire having a suitable degree of elasticity so that it willreadily yield upon pressure and will assume its original spiral formwhen released from pressure. In outline it is of tapered form, saidoutline being convergent toward its distal end. Numeral 6 indicates ahandle for the tool.

Numeral 7 indicates a section of hose which is disposed in the spiralspring, the intake for the hose being indicated at 8 and its dischargeport being indicated at '9, said discharge port being a part of avalve-housing 10, the hinge valve controlling sa1d discharge port beingindicated at 11.

The hose is provided with a threaded collar 12 adapted to be mounted inthe interiorly threaded end-portion 13 of the valve-housing. At 14 isindicated a detent-ring provided with a pair of opposed prongs 15. The

valveisprovidedwith a butter-plate 16 which 1931. Serial na'saassi.

projects outwardly through the port 9 from thevalve e In Fig. 4 of thedrawings the hose is shown in detached relation with the valveehousing,but it will be understood that the parts may be rotated fora mounting ofthe threaded collar 12 in the valve-housin g. i i It will beseen thatsince the prongs 15 projectoutwardly/of the coiled spring 5 thevalve-housing will not become "detached. from thefspring during use. 7For operation, the spiral spring shown in Figs. '1 and 2 may be usedwithout using the hose if desired, but in some instances the hose andits valve are of great advantage for removing obstructions, water underpressure being usedand a connection beingmade with the intake 8of'thehose from any suitable source or" supply, pressure of water in the hosenormally causing closure of the valve 11 s r In operation, when theparts consist sim-' ply of the spiral-spring shown in Fi s. 1 and 2: forremoving an obstruction,the handle 6" is'used 'for rotating the tool,and since the tool is elastic it may be moved through the curved partsof a pipe, and when the distal end'of the tool engages an obstruction00, said obstruction will generally become caught between the coils, andthe tool may then be drawn outwardly for removal.

It will be seen thatthe valve-housing 10 may be adjusted longitudinallyof the spiral spring 5 so that the bufier-member 16 may be disposedclosely adjacent to the terminal hook 17 of the spiral spring 5, or inadvance of said hook.

The valve may be readily attached .or detached from the hose. After thering 14 has I been placed a suitable distance from the hook 17 between apair of adjacently disposed coils of the spring the valve-housing isinserted and, by rotating these parts, the valvehousing will becomethreaded in the detentring.

Since the hose is flexible the tool may be rotated in the manner alreadymentioned, and an obstruction may be engaged by the hook 17 for removal.In some instances however, the obstruction may be of such consistencythat the spiral spring will not move forwardly in the pipe and in suchinstances the obstruction may be softened by use of water from the hose,and in operation, when the tool moves forwardly the detentmember orplate 16 will be pressed rearwardly in a manner to move the valve toopen position to permit water to move to advantage against theobstruction to cause disintegration in a degree to permit removal Itwill be appreciated that the tool consists of few parts to permitconvenient and economical production, and on account of its.

novel features of construction it will be effective'in removingobstructions from pipes having the curved forms mentioned.

I claimas my invention,

. 1. A pipe cleaning tool comprising anelongated-coiled spring providedwith a handle at one of its ends and having a tapered form in outlinefrom its handle toward its opposite end.

2. A pipe cleaning-tool comprising an elongated wire coil provided witha handle at one of its ends, a flexible hose disposed in the coil andhaving a valve arranged to permit a discharge, of liquid at that end ofthe wire coil opposite to the handle.

3. A pipe cleaning tool comprisinga wire bent to provide an elongatedcoiled part and a handle at one end of the coiled part, a valve-housinghaving a discharge port and disposed in that part of said coiled partopposite to said handle, a detent-ring on the valve-housing havingprojections extending outwardly of said coiled part, a valve in saidhousing having a buffer-member extend: ing outwardly of said dischargeport, and a hose disposed in said coiled part adapted to communicatewith the valve-housing for conducting a liquid thereto.

Intestimony whereof, I aflix my signature.-

LOUIS E. ROBINSON.

